Operating unit, especially for operating a multimedia system in a motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an operating unit, especially for operating a multimedia system in a motor vehicle, comprising an operating element that can be rotated about an axis (z), that can be moved along said axis of rotation (z) and that can be locked in a position ( 0, 1 ) on said axis (z). The operating element can also be moved on an plane (x, y) that is orthogonal relative to said axis (z) in order to control the movement of a cursor that can be shown on a display in any given direction.

This is a U.S. national stage of application No. PCT/DE 02/01526, filedon 26 Apr. 2002. Priority is claimed on that application and on thefollowing application(s): Country: Germany, Application No.: 101 20691.7,Filed: 27 Apr. 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an operator control unit, in particular foroperating a multimedia system in a motor vehicle, having an operatorcontrol element which can be rotated about an axis and displaced alongthis axis and can be latched in a position on this axis.

Such an operator control element is known from U.S. Pat. No.5,270,689.There, by rotating a rotary switch about an axis, a specificfunction is selected from a menu represented on a screen, and confirmedby pressing the switch. Inadvertent confirmation can be rescinded bypulling the switch. As a result of the confirmation, the unit is changedover into another menu in which a selection is possible in the same way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to develop an operator control unit ofthe generic type in such a way that more comfortable operator control ofa multimedia system becomes possible even when the functionality isincreased.

According,to the present invention,an operator control unit is embodiedin such a way that the operator control element can be displaced in atleast one plane which is orthogonal with respect to its axis of rotationin order to actuate the movement of a cursor in any desired direction,which cursor can be represented on a screen of the multimedia system.The operator control element can therefore be used in the manner of ajoystick so that not only is it possible to select specific elementsfrom a permanently predefined number of elements which can berepresented on a screen, for example from a menu, but also any desiredpoints on a screen can be selected, as is known from the cursor inpersonal computers which is controlled by a mouse.

This is possible with only one operator control element in a vehiclewhich is arranged as ergonomically as possible, for example on thecenter console, so that the driver of the vehicle can operate theassociated multimedia system easily and conveniently.

The operator control element may not only be pressed or pulled out ofthe position of rest in the direction of axis of rotation, but also maybe latched in at least one further position so that, in a further plane,convenient rotation of the operator control element or any desiredmovement in this plane is possible without the operator control elementhaving to be held in this plane by the operator.

The operator control element may assume, in each plane, a position ofrest into which it can be reset by means of restoring elements by theoperator after a deflection. In this way, the operator can assume thatwhenever the operator control element is released the cursor is at apredetermined point. In addition, the operator control element must bemoved counter to the force of the restoring elements, which usuallypermits a more uniform movement.

The operator control unit may additionally have a touchpad which eithercan or else cannot rotate along with the rotatable part of the operatorcontrol element.The touchpad can be used for recognizing script or elsecan be moved in order to move the cursor on the screen of the multimediasystem. In addition, it is possible to dispense with the movement in aplane which is orthogonal with respect to the axis of rotation of theoperator control element in order to move the cursor and only use thetouchpad for this purpose.

In order to identify authorized users, it is also possible to integratea fingerprint sensor into the operator control unit.

In one embodiment of the invention, the speed of the cursor which can berepresented on the screen of the multimedia system is a function of thedistance covered by the deflection of the operator control element fromits position of rest. The function may be, for example, an e functionbut also may be proportional to the deflection of the operator controlelement.

As a result of the diverse activation possibilities of the operatorcontrol element it is possible to assign a specific advantageousfunctionality to each activation possibility. Thus, it is possible, forexample, in a particularly advantageous way to enter a main menu fromany desired position of the various operator control menus by pullingthe operator control element, in other words by moving the operatorcontrol element in the direction of its axis of rotation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference toan exemplary embodiment using figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of an operator controlelement of an operator control unit according to the invention, and

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an operator control unit according to theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The operator control element according to the invention in FIG. 1 isarranged in a recess in a housing part 20, for example the centerconsole of a motor vehicle. It is seated on a mounting plate 21 which isconnected to the housing part 20 by means of spacer pins 22.

In order to move in any desired direction in an x-y plane according tothe coordinate system shown in the figure, the operator control elementhas a sleeve 10 which can move in the x-y direction, but is locked inthe z direction by a cotter 11. The sleeve 10 is connected to the cotter11 by means of restoring spring elements 12 which, on the one hand,permit movement in the x-y direction and, on the other hand, preventrotation of the sleeve 10 about the z axis. The restoring springelements 12 force the sleeve 10 back into the position of rest x,y=0 ifno force is exerted on the sleeve 10.

A receiving element 14 which is secured against rotation of thereceiving element 14 with respect to the sleeve 10 by means of lockingelements 7 which engage in a groove 23 in the sleeve 10 is plugged overthe sleeve 10.

The sleeve 10 also has depressions 24 into which latching springelements 13 can engage in order to be able to hold the receiving element14 in positions of rest in the z direction. Two such positions of rest,indicated by “0” and “1” are shown in FIG. 1. However, in principlefurther positions of rest are possible in the z direction.

A first printed circuit board 8 is plugged onto the receiving element 14and is secured in position by a snap ring 9. The inner ring 6 a of aring coder is plugged over the receiving element 14 from the otherdirection and soldered to the first printed circuit board 8. The outerring 6 b, rotatable with respect to the inner ring 6 a, of the ringcoder is plugged over the inner ring 6 a of the ring coder. The outerand inner rings 6 a, 6 b may have small grooves and projections (notillustrated) in order to permit latched rotation of the two rings 6 a, 6b with respect to one another.

A second printed circuit board 4, on which a joystick 3 is arranged, isinserted into the receiving element 14 in such a way that the joystick 3projects into a recess 25 in the cotter 11. The second printed circuitboard 4 is secured with a securing ring 5. The joystick 3 detects themovement of the sleeve 10 with respect to the cotter 11 in an x-y planeby tilting and outputs corresponding electrical signals which are passedon via the second printed circuit board 4. The joystick 3 is alsoembodied as a momentary-contact switch which detects a movement of thereceiving element 14 in the negative z direction by pressing theoperator control element.

At the top, a touchpad 2 is inserted into the receiving element 14. Anoperator control ring 1 is plugged over the receiving element 14 and thering coder 6 a, 6 b and, on the one hand, engages by means of latchingprojections 26 in corresponding recesses 27 in the outer ring 6 bof thering coder in order to be secured against pulling off, and, on the otherhand, has protrusions 28 on its inner side which engage in grooves 29 ofthe outer ring 6 b of the ring coder in order to transmit a rotation ofthe operator control ring 1 onto the outer ring 6 b of the ring coder.

When protrusions 28, grooves 29, latching projections 26, recesses 27,etc are mentioned in the description, although only one such element canbe seen in each case in FIG. 1, this is intended to mean that two ormore such elements may also be provided and distributed over thecircumference of the operator control element.

With the exemplary embodiment of an inventive operator control elementof an operator control unit which is illustrated in FIG. 1, as isapparent from the description, a rotation about the z axis is just aspossible as pressing in the negative z direction and pulling in the zdirection. In addition, it is possible to push the operator controlelement in x-y planes in various positions on the z axis in any desireddirection. As a result, it is possible, with just one operator controlelement, to move a cursor on a screen of a multimedia system and, forexample by pressing the operator control element, select a certainsubmenu, displayed on the screen and selected by means of the cursor,from a number of menus, and enter any desired menus in this way. It isadvantageously possible to speak back into the main menu from anydesired submenu by pulling on the operator control element in the zdirection.

The touchpad 2 permits further cursor movements or else recognition ofscript. The touchpad 2 can either be permanently connected to theoperator control ring 1 here, and thus rotate with it, or be permanentlyconnected to the receiving element 14.

The electrical terminals of the printed circuit boards 4, 8 may be ledto the outside, for example through the cotter 11. In order to be ableto sense the latched positions “0” and “1” of the receiving element 14electrically, a voltage divider may be implemented. For this purpose,the components comprising the latching spring elements 13 and sleeve 10form a circuit with which it is possible to tap the resulting voltagedifference.

FIG. 2 shows a quasi-photographic representation of the plan view of anoperator control unit according to the invention. Of the operatorcontrol element it is possible to see the operator control ring 1, whichcan be rotated, pressed, pulled and displaced, as well as the touchpad 2into which a fingerprint sensor is integrated. The operator control unitwhich is illustrated also has a depression for a hand 40 for securing awrist if there is no center arm rest available in the vehicle in orderto permit the user to rest the wrist/arm in a relaxed fashion. Inaddition, an on/off switch 30 is provided in order to activate anddeactivate the multimedia system. For specific functions, for examplerecurring functions, a plurality of pushbutton keys 50 are arrangedaround the operator control element.

1. An operator control unit for operating a multimedia system in a motorvehicle, comprising: a mounting element connectable to a housing; anoperator control element movably arranged relative to said mountingelement for actuating movement of a cursor representable on a screen ofthe multimedia system, said operator control element being rotatableabout an axis of rotation and movable along the axis of rotation, saidoperator control element being latchable at first and second positionsalong the axis of rotation, and said operator control element whenlatched in one of said first and second positions being displaceableonly within a planar area orthogonal with the axis of rotation; and atouchpad integrated in said operator control element and defining anarea orthogonal to the axis of rotation such that said operator controlelement and said touch pad are moveable in unison alone the axis ofrotation and said touch pad is latchable at different orthogonal areasrelative to the axis of rotation corresponding to the first and secondpositions, said touch pad being operable to at least one of recognizescript or perform further cursor movements.
 2. The operator control unitof claim 1, further comprising restoring elements connected to saidoperator control element for urging the operator control element to aposition of rest in the at least one plane after a deflection.
 3. Theoperator control unit of claim 2, wherein said operator control elementis operable for representing movement of a cursor on the screen of themultimedia system such that the speed of the cursor is representable asa function of the distance by which said operator control element isdeflected from the rest position.
 4. The operator control unit of claim1, wherein said operator element includes a non-rotatable part and arotatable part, said touchpad being connected with said non-rotatablepart.
 5. The operator control unit of claim 1, wherein said operatorelement includes a non-rotatable part and a rotatable part, saidtouchpad being connected with said rotatable part.
 6. The operatorcontrol unit of claim 1, further comprising a fingerprint sensor.
 7. Theoperator control unit of claim 1, wherein movement of the operatorcontrol element along the axis of rotation is operable for triggering afunction, whereby the function is triggerable by pressing the operatorcontrol element along the axis of rotation.
 8. The operator unit ofclaim 1, wherein the movement of the cursor on the screen of themultimedia system is performed through the touchpad.
 9. The operatorunit of claim 1, wherein the touchpad recognizes script.
 10. Theoperator unit of claim 1, wherein said operator control element having alatching element which operates orthogonally to the axis of rotation toselectively enter depressions defined relative to said mounting elementand corresponding to said first and second latching positions.
 11. Anoperator control unit for operating a multimedia system in a motorvehicle, comprising: a mounting element connectable to a housing; anoperator control element movably arranged relative to said mountingelement for actuating movement of a cursor representable on a screen ofthe multimedia system, said operator control element being rotatableabout an axis of rotation and movable along the axis of rotation, saidoperator control element being latchable at first and second positionsalong the axis of rotation; and a touch pad integrated in said operatorcontrol element and defining an area orthogonal to the axis of rotationsuch that said operator control element and said touch pad are moveablein unison along the axis of rotation and said touchpad is latchable atdifferent orthogonal areas relative to the axis of rotationcorresponding to the first and second positions, movement of the cursoron the screen of the multimedia system being performed through thetouchpad.
 12. The operator unit of claim 11, wherein said operatorcontrol element having a latching element which operates orthogonally tothe axis of rotation to selectively enter depressions defined relativeto said mounting element and corresponding to said first and secondlatching positions.